What do Leaf fans think?

[nivek_wahs]

from sportsnet.ca
Top down trouble

With their season mercifully coming to an end, the Leafs face many problems both on and off the ice, and several options to correct them.

(CP) -- No one expected much of the Maple Leafs this season, despite their fans' hopes.

Most pegged the team to finish in or around the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with many picking Toronto to be on the outside looking in.

That seems to be holding true.

A look at what went wrong for the Leafs this season and what they must do moving forward:

OFF THE ICE

It became clear that the relationship between rookie GM John Ferguson and veteran head coach Pat Quinn is fractured beyond repair.

There were hints of this throughout the season but it was there for all to see this weekend in Montreal. It started Thursday morning when reporters asked Quinn about losing goalie Ed Belfour for the year to a back injury, news that had leaked out first when Ferguson, on a Toronto radio station Wednesday night, said the Leafs were operating under the assumption Belfour was gone, and then a ticker note said as much on the Leafs' official website Thursday morning before being removed. Quinn had no idea, because his GM hadn't told him yet, and it's believed he was upset about it.

Quinn took the unusual step after Saturday night's loss to the Canadiens to re-enter the dressing room after already having completed his post-game duties with the media, telling reporters that defenceman Alexander Khavanov had suffered a broken leg. We suspect Ferguson did not know this yet, not until he himself came down the visitors' dressing room to check it out. By then, every major media outlet already knew.

But truth be told, neither Ferguson nor Quinn are to blame for overall problems. They never had a chance. A rookie GM inherited a veteran coach who not only had decades of experience on his new boss, but was also the team's former GM. This is where Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, must accept responsibility. Quinn wanted either Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Steve Tambellini or Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson as his new GM, men he knew he could work with, but Peddie instead chose the unknown Ferguson, who had toiled as assistant GM in St. Louis.

Ferguson also deserved a better chance, but he was behind the eight-ball right off the bat in Toronto. Every new GM deserves the chance to hire his own people, especially his own coach.

Quinn is most likely gone and the veteran coach already appears to know it. His demeanour with the media in recent weeks, while relaxed and happy go-lucky, suggests a man who is resigned to his fate. He'll take the money left on the final year of his contract and return to his Vancouver home while awaiting his next coaching opportunity.

As for Ferguson, he'll probably get at least one more year, especially since Peddie hired him. He's created plenty of salary cap space for this summer and probably deserves a chance to spend some of that money and mould the team he wants.

ON THE ICE

Every team's success in the NHL starts from the net out and that's where the problems started for the Leafs this year. Belfour, who was tremendous in his first two years in Toronto, was average at best this season as his age (40) and back problems finally caught up with him. His 3.29 goals-against average ranks 39th in the NHL, his .892 save percentage 37th. There are other problems on this team, but no club makes the playoffs with that kind of goaltending. Belfour's bad back has opened the door for Mikael Tellqvist, who had better numbers (3.00 GAA, .898 SP) but has failed since officially being given the No. 1 job, giving up 11 goals in two losses to Montreal. He now has 11 games to showcase his skills for next season.

The blue-line has been brutal for the most part all season long, another reason why the Leafs won't make the playoffs. After the all-star pair of Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe, who were excellent this year, it gets thin in a hurry. Khavanov, Aki Berg and Ken Klee (before he was traded) struggled most the year, opposing forwards preying on their giveaways.

On the bright side, Staffan Kronwall showed promise in the 34 games he played.

Up front, it's been a mixed bag. Captain Mats Sundin had a poor first half, set back by a scary eye injury in the first game of the season, but he's come on strong in the second half and quietly is close to the point-per-game pace he's always delivered (56 points in 59 games). Darcy Tucker has been Toronto's most consistent forward, tying a career-high with 24 goals, but also displaying the kind of hustle and desire few of his teammates have matched on a nightly basis. He's also matured and become an important leader.

Rookie Alexander Steen started off strong but the demands of an 82-game season (twice what he was used to in Sweden) has seen him fade a bit in the second half. But he's a keeper. Alexei Ponikarovsky and Chad Kilger are the other bright lights in a season gone wrong.

On the down side, winger Jeff O'Neill has been the biggest disappointment, his 16 goals and team-worst minus-20 rating not what was expected from the former 41-goal scorer. He's got another year at $1.5 million so the Leafs are likely stuck with him.

Jason Allison is technically the top-scoring Leafs forward with 60 points (17-43) in 62 games but his minus-18 rating tells the tale of a player that also disappointed. He wasn't the dominant No. 2 centre Ferguson had hoped he had signed, scoring on the power play but not doing much else, especially in the clutch. His contract is expiring and he likely won't be back.

Overall, not enough offence except for its power play. The Leafs rank 28th in the NHL in five-on-five scoring, squeezed between Columbus and St. Louis. That's unacceptable.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Leafs, not counting any of their AHL prospects, only have 10 players under contract for next season, which gives Ferguson some flexibility in rebuilding his club.

First he must say goodbye to Belfour, which means declining a $4.48-million option and paying him the $1.5-million buyout. Ferguson should give serious thought at approaching veteran goalie Curtis Joseph about returning home to end his career. He'll be an unrestricted free agent July 1 and would not mind playing mentor or even backup to Tellqvist next season. And he'd probably do it for $1 million.

The blue-line needs serious help. First Ferguson must try to re-sign McCabe, who is slated for unrestricted free agent status July 1. He's not worth $5 million a season and unless his asking price comes down, he's a goner. That's OK, there's plenty of big-name defencemen on the free-agent market this summer, led by Zdeno Chara, Ed Jovanovski, and even the likes of Pavel Kubina, Willie Mitchell and Jay McKee. (Forget Nick Lidstrom or Wade Redden, they'll re-sign with their clubs before the season is out). Ferguson needs one of those big names, and then bring up some of his promising prospects such as Kronwall, Brendan Bell, Ian White or Jay Harrison. Give them a chance.

Up front, Kilger will be an unrestricted free agent and needs to be re-signed, he's proven to be a quality third-liner. Nik Antropov will be a restricted free agent, Ferguson should opt not to qualify him and let him go free. He's never lived up to his first-round hype.

Eric Lindros is a free agent, and we suggest bringing him back. Yes, he only played 32 games, but put up 22 points and was a pretty good player, especially at $1.55 million. He'll come back cheap.

Ferguson also has to look at what's available elsewhere. Star winger Patrik Elias will be unrestricted. Todd Bertuzzi may be available via a trade. Brad Richards will be a restricted free agent but the Lightning may find it difficult to re-sign him. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The bottom line? Ferguson won't appease Toronto's faithful fan base unless he returns in September with a drastically different-looking lineup.

The clock is ticking.

[Swando]

Long time Leaf fan ----oh my 40+ years. My only comment to your lenghty detailed opinion is the followiing.

Delete for 2006/7

1. Wade Belak - to slow and although cheap is not worth it.
2. Tie Domi - was a big fan but game has changed and passed him by.
3. Nik Andropov - injury prone - a bit too slow - Trade bait
4. Jeff O'Neil - would have been a great story -didn't work
5. Jason Allison- to slow and doesn't like to be 3rd/4th liner
6. Ed Belfour - need I say more
7. Richardson - to many youth on the farm as good

Keepers - unless trade makes BIG sense and positive gain

Tucker
Sundin
McCabe (sign him)
Stajan

Tradeable

Aki Berg

Non-Tradeable

Steen
Talquvist
Kaberle
Ponikeroski

The rest like Lindros, and other UR players will have to make sense as we have a farm to bring up that could have done just as well. I hope they tank and get a better draft position.

[LifelongChiefsFan]

I don't get it. Why would they want to bring Lindros back? He hasn't been healthy for a full year in 3 seasons!!

I'd rather keep Allison over him

[GBG BLEED BLUE]

thought that this season was going to be a promising one with what they thought were good free agent signigs( the guys like Lindros and Allison who had a good season but O'neil not so much) would help the team reach the playoffs,but look now Allison is most likely done for the season and Lindros I think has an injury that will make him miss even more time. The problem with these two guys is INJURIES.

There is a big discussion in and around Leafs Nation as to which one of JFJ or Pat Quinn should get the boot.

I also think that some of the older guys should retire and hang up the skates and jersey up for good.

I do think that the Leafs get a decent draft pick in the 2006 draft.
and could possibly trade to get an even higher pick in the first round.

I still hope that the Leafs can make the playoffs but I will not be upset if they do not.

[Tinner]

I think the Leafs need a house cleaning, which includes Ferguson, Quinn and some of the older players. St. Louis tried the "sign big name players" act give away draft picks and look where their at. The Leafs must get younger!

As far as Feguson is concerned, this guy has made one blunder after another, and nothing to improve the teams fortunes. I know ownership has a waiting list for tickets, which are arguebly the highest in the league, but the fans patience is wanning.

[scamperdog]

www.foxsports.com


Get the crying towels out for rabid fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The fat lady is singing and the reservations have been made at the Season's End Motel. It is just a matter of time before the beloved Maple Leafs are officially put out of their misery.
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Maple Leafs have 74 points and are seven points back of a playoff berth. Sure the Leafs can hope and dream about making the postseason, and their fans can light as many prayer candles as they want. But upon closer inspection, you'll notice that the Leafs are closer to 13th place in the Eastern Conference than the coveted eighth and final playoff berth.

You might as well forget about any talk about gut-check time going down the stretch. The Leafs are toast and they know it. Trouble is they can't admit it.

Now that the end is oh so near, the question is: Whose head will roll?

General manager John Ferguson Jr. is most definitely on the hot seat. Signing goalie Ed Belfour was a gamble that didn't pay off. Belfour was only a back injury away from retirement when the season started and Belfour's season and most likely his career is over because of — that's right — his back.

Eric Lindros finally got to play in his hometown and the way he was playing, nobody could really ask any more from him. But Lindros injured a wrist before Christmas and fingers were pointed over whether he received the proper treatment from the Leafs medical staff, and now his season is done and his future in the NHL is iffy. You can't blame Ferguson for the wrist injury, but the fact remains it happened on the GM's watch.

Coach Pat Quinn might consider dusting off his resume and updating it because his days are probably numbered, too.

There are a lot of players facing an uncertain future and the most interesting one to watch is Mats Sundin. If the Maple Leafs captain was at all interested in adding a Stanley Cup title to his list of accomplishments, he'd demand an off-season trade. Sundin might be loyal and he is not stupid. Maybe it's a Swedish thing not to rock the boat. But it says here it is time for Sundin to find a new home.

But if you were to clean house, you might as well start at the top and give Richard Peddie, the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the boot.

Peddie is the guy who chose Ferguson and gave his seal of approval to signing Belfour, giving Quinn a new deal and ponying up for Lindros.

Peddie is The Man in LeafNation and if he keeps his job it says a lot about what the priorities really are.

Peddie has served his masters well. The Maple Leafs make money. No, make that loads of money and million-dollar profits are exactly what big business is all about, especially in the era of the NHL salary cap.

And the Leafs are a major business operation. The Maple Leaf logo is one of the most recognizable in all of pro sports and it ranks up there with the New York Yankees, soccer's Real Madrid and Chelsea clubs and New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team.

Peddie is a first-team all-star when it comes to filling up the barrels with cash. It doesn't matter that the team is a bust because money talks in the Maple Leaf boardroom. This is a team that has a teachers' pension fund as the silent majority owner.

It's almost four decades since the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup and it is a proven recipe that all the Leafs have to do is keep within sniffing distance of a playoff berth and all is well in LeafNation. Those blinded-by-the-light fans show up in droves and sit on their fat wallets, conjuring up memories of the glorious run to the 1967 Stanley Cup title.

But like death and taxes, the inevitable happens. The fans are denied the chance to use their pricey season tickets for a Stanley Cup final. Spring comes and Leaf fans book their tee times.

The Maple Leafs are a lot like the Boston Red Sox before the Bosox won the World Series. Who needs to win? It is always good to tease you fans, keeping them thinking that this is the year. They come to the games, buy souvenirs, beers, hot dogs and go home happy. Owners roll in the dough.

You can imagine what might happen if the Leafs ever won the Stanley Cup. Those fans who have hung on to their season tickets, passing them on from generation to generation, could die happy. They wouldn't need their seats. But why win when you can make loads of coin teasing your faithful fans?

In some ways, Leaf fans are a lot like lemmings. Tell them to wear blue and white and jump into the Toronto harbor at 3 a.m. and they will start lining up a day before to take the plunge.

Why win when you know not winning really doesn't change the bottom line?

If Peddie stays, it is all about the cash.

[Hatguy]

I think the Leafs are a joke. I prefer the western teams like Calgary and Edmonton personally. I say we bring back the Winnipeg Jets!!!

[Toswammi]

Although i know the fans are there in the Peg, i am not sure about the Corporate support and cash. That is where the big $$$ come from so its useless with out it. Also isnt the new building just a touch undersized for the NHL.

[Toswammi]

The leafs need to start using the farm instead of ignoring them. I mean they dont have a bad system, i wont call it great either. Sadly what the team needs is a couple of years of growing pains and build with youth to win long term. We all know that with there fan base that is never an option. Stupid short sighted fans.

[Hatguy]

Hey check out this Jets site. http://www.jetsowner.com/